NEED ADVICE; buying complete wireless setup in about a week

Karchiveur · Post by **Karchiveur** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:29 am

Alright So theres 3 comps in my house, we are getting high speed very soon, now i want it all to go wireless, and with the best mb/s possible, I want massive range (security in no big deal, don't need any)

i would like for you guys to hit me up with what you think would work best... and for the lowest price possible.... I will buy used aswell.... just have no idea where to start!

I will scout forums for the hardware you guys think will be best... but need something to start looking for

thx,
Jordan

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:34 am

If this is just for Internet, your Internet bandwidth will never exceed your wireless bandwidth and anything will do.

If you plan on transferring files or sharing printers then be aware that in REAL WORLD USE effective wireless bandwidth is less than half of a hard wired network (despite what the advertising and hype says). You have to realize that a supposedly 54Mb/s wireless network loses 1/4 of that right off that bat due to error correction. Then on top of that your bandwidth drops off with distance and signal strength. One end of the house to the other your effective bandwidth may be 5mb/s. More than enough for Internet, but terrible for transferring a 700Mb Divx file.

If max bandwidth is REALLY important then you should run CAT5 cable.

For wireless you will need one Cable/DSL Router and two wireless NICs. I Assume these are all desktops?

DO NOT buy PCI Card wireless NICs! Buy USB Wireless NICs. The PCI cards have terrible rangle because the antenna is buried behind the computer case and the signal is blocked by the case. Yes they make a remote antenna but that adds a lot of needless expense.

Get a router and two USB NICs. I prefer Linksys and they usually sell them at Office Depot and Wally World, or you can mailorder.

The reason I like USB Nics is that you can put real long USB cabled on them and place them in ideal locations. For the best range the NICs should be as high as possible - put them on top of a bookcase or hange them high on the wall.

Try to place the router in as central a location as possible to maximize the coverage. HOWEVER you want the router physically close to one of the computers because you DO want one of the computers connected to the router via a CAT5 cable. Yes you could connect all 3 computers using wireless but it makes troubleshooting and setup much more complicated.

Try to place the router so it's also high up - on top of a bookcase for instance.

DoPeY5007 · Post by **DoPeY5007** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 9:38 am

I can't really add much to what FP said, he covered it all well

Karchiveur · Post by **Karchiveur** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:41 pm

well its not really important, but it will be used for printing and Xvid sharing... i will go usb like you said, these are all desktops,

All i care about really is gaming and file transfer rate, along with internet

the main Idea is no cables... and for lans we can just setup plug usb in and giver... nice and easy

but i would like to know which exact products you suggest me to use? its a 1 story house.... and max computers been used at once would be about 8 networked!

thank you

jordan

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:26 pm

ROUTER:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833124010

WIFI USB NICs:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833124126

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:28 pm

I say belkin mimo stuff. it ns awsome!

Greg